Money-handling device with pivotal escrow platform

ABSTRACT

A money-handling device has a platform which is rotatably mounted within a chamber and which receives bills that issue from a currency validator; and that platform holds those bills in escrow - responding to a vend signal to rotate in one direction to transfer bills thereon to a passage leading to a cash box, and responding to a cancel signal to rotate in the opposite direction to transfer bills thereon to a passage leading to a bill-return receptacle. Both the chamber and the platform are longer and much wider than any bill which can issue from the currency validator; and the walls of the chamber are vertical and are smooth and free of obstructions, and the upper surface of the platform is smooth and free of obstructions. As a result, that platform can receive bills and readily transfer them to the passage leading to the cash box or to the passage leading to the bill-return receptacle even if those bills are wet, torn, folded, split, wrinkled, rolled or otherwise difficult to transfer. One edge of that platform is spaced a short distance from the adjacent surface of that chamber, and a deflector overlies the resulting gap. If any bill that issues from the currency validator tends to approach and enter that gap, the deflector will intercept that bill and will keep it from entering and sticking in that gap. The billreturn receptacle is movably mounted within the passage which leads to that bill-return receptacle; and a gap is provided between one side of that bill-return receptacle and the adjacent surface of that passage to facilitate ready movement of that bill-return receptacle relative to that passage. A deflector is mounted within that passage so it overlies that gap; and that deflector will keep bills, which the platform transfers to that passage, from entering and sticking in that gap. The bill-return receptacle and a coin-return cup are both mounted adjacent an opening in the money-handling device, and that bill-return receptacle overlies that coin-return cup. Coins can enter that coin-return cup regardless of the position of the bill-return receptacle; but coins can be removed from that coin-return cup only when that bill-return receptacle is in or close to its normal bill-receiving position, and bills can be removed from that bill-return receptacle only when that bill-return receptacle in in or close to its moved bill-returning position. A motor and connecting linkage selectively rotate the platform in the said one direction or the other; and interlocks are provided to prevent movement of the bill-return receptacle out of its normal bill-receiving position while the motor is energized and to disable the motor whenever that bill-return receptacle is out of that position.

l United States Patent [1 1 Johnson MONEY-HANDLING DEVICE WITH PIVOTAL ESCROW PLATFORM [75] Inventor: Raymond Arthur Johnson, Hot Springs, Ark.

[73] Assignee: U. M. C. Industries, Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:283,733

[58] Field of Searchl94/l D, 9, l0, DIG. 9, DIG. l4, 194/DIG. l5, DIG. l6; 133/2; 209/74 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,922,427 1/1960 Buchholz 133/2 2,635,731 4/1953 Dolman 194/DIG. 15 1,998,625 4/1935 Kirk l94/D1G. 16 1,823,093 9/1931 DuGrenier.... l94/DIG. 16 3,002,602 10/1961 Giepen 194/10 2,262,425 11/1941 Grunig l94/DIG. 15 3,651,986 3/1972 Karecki l94/DIG. 9 3,682,183 8/1972 Morrow 133/1 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky Attorney, Agent,,0r FirmRey Eilers [5 7] ABSTRACT A money-handling device has a platform which is rotatably mounted within a chamber and which receives bills that issue from a currency validator; and that platform holds those bills in escrow responding to a vend signal to rotate in one direction to transfer bills thereon to a passage leading to a cash box, and responding to a cancel signal to rotate in the opposite direction to transfer bills thereon to a passage leading to a bill-return receptacle. Both the chamber and the platform are longer and much wider than any bill Jan. 29, 1974 which can issue from the currency validator; andthe walls of the chamber are vertical and are smooth and free of obstructions, and the upper surface of the platform is smooth and free of obstructions. As a result, that platform can receive bills and readily transfer them to the passage leading to the cash box or to the passage leading to the bill-return receptacle even if those bills are Wet, torn, folded, split, wrinkled, rolled or otherwise difficult to transfer. One edge of that platform is spaced a short distance from the adjacent surface of that chamber, and a deflector overlies the resulting gap. If any bill that issues from the currency validator tends to approach and enter that gap, the deflector will intercept that bill and will keep it from entering and sticking in that gap. The bill-return receptacle is movably mounted within the passage which leads to that bill-return receptacle; and a gap is pro vided between one side of that bill-return receptacle and the adjacent surface of that passage to facilitate ready movement of that bill-return receptacle relative to that passage. A deflector is mounted within that passage so it overliesthat gap; and that deflector will keep bills, which the platform transfers to that passage, from entering and sticking in thatgap. The billreturn receptacle and a coin-return cup are both mounted adjacent an opening in the money-handling device, and that bill-return receptacle overlies that coin-return cup. Coins can enter that coin-return cup regardless of the position of the bill-return receptacle; but coins can be removed from that coin-return cup only when that bill-return receptacle is in or close to its normal bill-receiving position, and bills can be removed from that bill-return receptacle only when that bill-return receptacle in in or close to its moved billreturning position. A motor and connecting linkage selectively rotate the platform in the said one direction or the other; and interlocks are provided to prevent movement of the bill-returnreceptacle out of its normal bill-receiving position while the motor is energized and to disable the motor whenever that billretum receptacle is out of that position.

7 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,788,333

sum 1 or 5 CANCEL BILL INSERT J/Q- a J2 J5 J6 Ant-0mm!) PATENTEBJANZQ I874 SHEET 8 OF m MMH @w @N 3% MONEY-HANDLING DEVICE WITH PIVOTAL ESCROW PLATFORM This invention relates to improvements in Money- Handling Devices. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to improvements in money-handling devices which can hold paper currency in escrow.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved money-handling device which can hold paper currency in escrow.

The money-handling device of the present invention has a platform which is rotatably mounted within a chamber and which receives bills that issue from a currency validator; and that platform holds those bills in escrow responding to a vend signal to rotate in one direction to transfer bills thereon to a passage leading to a cash box, and responding to a cancel signal to rotate in the opposite direction to transfer bills thereon to a passage leading to a bill-return receptacle. Both the chamber and the platform are longer and much wider than any bill which can issue from the currency validator; and the walls of the chamber are vertical and are smooth and free of obstructions; and the upper surface of the platform is smooth and free of obstructions. As a result, that platform can receive bills and readily transfer them to the passage leading to the cash box or to the passage leading to the bill-return receptacle even if those bills are wet, torn, folded, split, wrinkled, rolled or otherwise difficult to transfer. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a moneyhandling device which has an elongated, wide, smoothsurfaced platform, rotatably mounted within an elongated, wide chamber with vertical, smooth and obstruction-free walls, to hold and then transfer bills.

One edge of the platform of the n'ioney-handlingdevice is spaced a short distance from the adjacent surface of the chamber in which that platform is mounted; and a deflector overlies the resulting gap. If any bill that issues from the currency validator tends to approach and enter that gap, the deflector will intercept that bill and will keep it from entering and sticking in that gap. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a money-handling device which has a deflector that overlies a gap, between one .edge of the platform of that money-handling device and an adjacent surface of the chamber in which. that platform is rotatably mounted, and which will intercept and deflect any bill that tends to approach and enter that gap.

The bill-return receptacle of the money-handling device is movably mounted within the passage which leads to that bill-return receptacle; and a gap is provided between one side of that bilI-retum receptacle and the adjacent surface of that passage to facilitate ready movement of that bill-return receptacle relative to that passage. A deflector is mounted within that passage so it overlies that gap, and that deflector will keep hills, which the platform transfers to that passage, from entering and sticking in that gap. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a moneyhandling device which has a bill-return receptacle that is movably mounted within a passage and which has a deflector that overlies a gap between one side of that bill-return receptacle and the adjacent surface of that passage that will intercept and deflect any bill which tends to approach and enter that gap.

The bill-return receptacle and a coin-return cup are both mounted adjacent an opening in the moneyhandling device, and that bill-return receptacle overlies that coin-return cup. Coins can enter that coin-return cup regardless of the position of the bill-return receptacle, but coins can be removed from that coin-return cup only when that bill-return receptacle is in or close to its normal bill-receiving position, and bills can be removed from that bill-return receptacle only when that bill-return receptacle is in or close to its moved billreturning position. However, by properly positioning the bill-return receptacle, a patron can retrieve all of the coins and all of the bills which are to be returned to him. As a result, the present invention makes it possible to retrieve coins and bills through the same opening. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a money-handling device which has a coinretum cup and a bill-return receptacle that are mounted adjacent the same opening and which permits coins to enter that coin-return cup regardless of the position' of the bill-return receptacle but which permits coins and bills to be removed through that opening only when that bill-return receptacle is in alternate positions.

A motor and connecting linkage selectively rotate the platform of the money-handling device toward the passage leading to the cash box or toward the passage leading to the bill-return receptacle; and interlocks are provided to prevent movement of the bill-return receptacle out of its normal bill-receiving position while the motor is energized. Further interlocks are provided to disable the motor whenever that bill-return receptacle is out of that position. In this way, the money-handlng device is able to resist any efforts of patrons to obtain bills which should not be returned to them. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a money-handling device which has a motor and connecting linkage to selectively rotate the platform of that money-handling device, and toprovide interlocks which prevent movement of the bill-return receptacle of that money-handling device out of its normal billreceiving position while the motor is energized and to disable the motor whenever that bill-return receptacle is out of that position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

' In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one preferred embodiment of money-handling device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away elevational view of the left-hand side of the money-handling device,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, that is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 1, 1

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on a still larger scale, that is taken along the plane indicated by the line 4 4 in FIG. 1,

FIG. is a front elevational view, on the scale of FIG. 4, of the yoke and cam shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a partially broken-away elevational view, on the scale of FIG. 1, of the rear of the money-handling device,

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view, on the scale of FIG. 1, of the upper area of the bill-escrow section of the money-handling device,

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view which is essentially the same as that of FIG. 7, but it shows the cams and the combination crankarm and cam rotated from the positions of FIG. 7, g

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, and

it is taken along the broken plane indicated by the broken line 10-10 in FIG. 6,

FIG. 1 1 is a sectional view, on a still larger scale, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 11-11 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 12 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 11,

and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 12-12 in FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 11,

and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 13-13 in FIG. 11, Y

FIG. 14 is a sectional view on the scale of FIG. 11,

DESCRIPTION OF- THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

In the drawing, the numeral 20 denotes the front wall of the bill-escrow section of one preferred embodiment of money-handling device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention; and that front wall has forwardly extending flanges at the side and top'edges thereof. The numeral 22 denotes a wall which is secured to and extends rearwardly from the left-hand edge of the front wall 20; and

that wall has a laterally extending flange 24 at the front edge thereof and a horizontally extending flange 25 at the top edge thereof. The numeral 26 denotes a wall which is secured to and extends rearwardly from the right-hand edge of the front wall 20; and that wall has a laterally extending flange 28 at the front edge: thereof and has a vertically directed slot 30 therein, as shown particularly by FIG. 3. The numeral 32 denotes a wall which is secured to, and extends between the rear edges of, the walls 22 and 26; and that rear wall has rearwardly extending flanges at the side and top edges thereof. The walls 20, 22, 26 and 32 define a prismatic housing for the bill-escrow section of the moneyhandling device; and the horizontally extending flange 25 on the wall 22 serves as a top for that housing.

The numeral 34 denotes a rectangular notch in the lower right-hand portion of the rear wall 32, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 6. The numeral 36 denotes an L- shaped bracket which is secured to' the wall 26 and which has the long arm thereof projecting outwardly to the left from that wall, as that wall is viewed in FIG. 6. The numeral 38 denotes a similar bracket which is attached to the wall 26 adjacent the lower end of that wall; and those brackets can be used to secure the money-handling device' within a vending machine. A U-shaped bracket 40 is secured to the horizontallyextending flange 25 on the top edge of the wall 22, as shown particularly by FIG. 6; and the closed end of that bracket is aligned with the forward edge of .the forwardly extending flange at the upper edge of the front wall 20, while one of the sides of that bracket .is disposed a fraction of an inch outwardly of the wall 26. The numeral 42 denotes a further U-shaped bracket which also is secured to the horizontally directed flange 25 on the top edge the wall 22; and the closed end of that bracket lies in the plane of that wall, while one of the sidesof that bracket is aligned with the forward edge of the forwardly extending flange at the upper edge of the front wall 20. As indicated by FIGS. 1 and 6, the sides of the U-shaped bracket 42 are trapezoidal in configuration.

A plate 44, with ornamental trim at the edges thereof, is secured to the closed end of the U-shaped bracket 40 and to the forward side of the U-shaped bracket 42. That plate is horizontally directed, it has a vertically directed coin slot 46 therein, it has a vertically directed slot 48 therein, it has a circular opening 51 thereon, and it has a horizontally directed slot 54 therein. The vertically directed slot 48 accommodates the forward end of a reject lever 50, the circular opening 51 accommodates a CANCEL pushbutton 52, and the slot 54 accommodates the bill-receiving platform 56 of a currency validator 58. The numeral 60 denotes a pivoted retainer at the rear of the currency validator 58; and that retainer can be rotated out of the position shown by FIGS. 1 and 6 to permit removal of that currency validator. The numeral 62 denotes a coin chute which extends rearwardly from the plate 44 and which is in register with the coin slot 46.

A stud 64 extends to the right from the closed end of the U-shaped bracket 42, as that bracket is viewed in FIG. 6; and that stud rotatably supports the reject lever 50. An arcuate blade 66 is secured to the reject lever 50 at a point immediately rearward of the plate 44, and that arcuate blade effectively closes the slot .48 in all positions of the reject lever 50. A helical extension spring 68 urges the reject lever 50 toward the upper position shown by FIG. 1, but it can yield to permit that reject lever to be moved downwardly. A horizontal plate 70 is secured to the plate 44 and to the U-shaped bracket 42, and it limits the upward movement of the arcuate blade 66 and thus the upward movement of the reject lever 50. Y I

The numeral 72 denotes three studs which have shouldered projections thereon; and two of those studs project outwardly from the closed and of the U-shaped bracket 42 while the third of those studs projects outwardly from the lower portion of the wall 22, as indicated particularly by FIGS. 2 and 6. Those studs releasably support a channel 74 which, in turn, releasably supports a slug rejector 79 and fixedly supports a switch bracket 81, a returned coin chute 76, a coinescrow 83, and an accepted coin chute 78. The plate 44, the reject lever 50, the CANCEL pushbutton 52, the currency validator 58, the studs 72, the channel 74,

the returned coin chute76, the accepted coin chute 78, the slug rejector 79, the switch bracket 81, and the coin-escrow 83 are commercially available components of the money-handling device that are not, per se, parts of the present invention.

The numeral 77 denotes a cash box for coins which is indicated by dotted lines in FIGS. 2 and 6; and that cash box underlies the bottom'of the accepted coin chute 78.'That cash box can be of any desired size and design. The numeral 80 denotes a coin guide which is trapezoidal in configuration, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 6; and that coin guide is wide enough to accommodate coins from the returned coin chute 76. As shown by FIG. 12, that coin guide is long enough to accommodate coins from the returned coin outlet 86 of the coinescrow 83. The numeral 82 denotes a pivot which spans the coin guide 80, as indicated by FIG. 12; and that pivot rotatably supports a door 84. The numeral 88 denotes an opening in the lower area of the wall 22; and that opening is in register with the lower end of the coin guide 80. The opening 88 is wide enough and long enough to permit the lower edge of the door 84 to pass through it. The numeral 90 denotes an opening in the lower area of the front wall 20; and the upper end of that opening is defined by a forwardly extending flange on that wall, as shown by FIG. 11. An ornamental frame 92, of standard and usual design, is secured to the front wall 20; and that frame defines the limits of the opening 90.

The numeral 94 denotes a wall which is parallel to, and which is disposed between, the walls 22 and 26 of the housing for the bill-escrow section; and that wall has two projections 96 on the front thereof which extend forwardly through vertically directed slots in the front wall 20, as indicated particularly by FIGS. 1 and 4. The wall 94 has three projections 98 on the rear thereof which extend rearwardly through vertically directed slots in the rear wall 32, as indicated .by FIGS. 6-8 and 10. Thatwall is approximately midway between the walls 22 and 26, as indicated by FIGS. 1, 6, 8 and and that wall effectively sub-divides the lower portion of the housing for the bill-escrow section into two adjacent passages. The lower portion of the wall 94 coacts with the lower portion of the wall 26 and with a curved plate 100, which is shown particularly by FIG. 11, to form a coin-return cup 101.

The numeral 102 denotes a pivot which extends be tween the lower portions of the walls 22 and 94; and that pivot is located immediately adjacent the rear edge of the curved plate 100. The numeral 104 generally denotes a bill-return receptacle which has a front portion 106, a handle 107 extending forwardly from that front portion, a rear portion 108, and intermediate portion 110, a side wall 1 12 which has flanges lapping the front and rear portions 106 and 108, and a second side wall 114 with flanges that also lap the front and rear portions 106 and 108. The front, rear and intermediate portions 106, 108 and 110 coact to constitute a recesspivot 102. The side wall 112 is located close to the inner face of the wall 22, and the side wall 114 is located close to the left-hand face of the wall 94, all as shown by FIGS. 12 and 13. However, to facilitate ready rotation of the bill-return receptacle 104 about the pivot 102, a definite tolerance is provided between the side wall 112 and the wall 22, and a definite-tolerance is provided between the side wall 114 and the wall 94. The opening in the front wall 20 lies in a vertical plane; and that plane coacts with a line, which extends between the upper edge of that opening and the axis of the pivot 102, to define an acute angle. The handle 107 of the bill-return receptacle 104 abuts the upper edge of the opening 90 and the rear portion 108 of that re ceptacle is close to the rear wall 32 whenever that receptacle is in the bill-receiving position shown by solid lines in FIG. 11. The-handle 107 and the front portion 106 will move forwardly and downwardly as the billretum receptacle 104 is rotated from the bill-receiving position shown by solid lines to the bill-releasing posi tion shown by dotted lines. In moving forwardly as well as downwardly, while the bill-return receptacle 104 is being moved from the solid-line to the dotted-line position of FIG. 11, the forward portion of that receptacle provides full and ready access to any bills held within the recessed bottom of that receptacle.

A helical extension spring 117 has one end thereof hooked around the rod 118 and has the other end thereof hooked around a pin 123 which extends inwardly from the wall 22. That spring normally holds the bill-return receptacle 104 in the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 1; but itcan yield to permit that receptacle to be moved to the dotted-line position shown by FIG. 11. When the bill-return receptacle 104 is in the solid-line position of FIG; 1 1, the front portion 106 of that receptacle will serve as a closure for the passage which is defined by the walls 20, 22, 32 and 94. However, that front portion will be disposed well above the opening 88 and well above the curved plate and .hence, whenever the bill-return receptacle 104 is' in the solid-line position of FIG. 11, coins can freely enter the coin-return cup 101 via the opening 88, and coins can be freely removed fron that coin-return cup via the opening 90. When the bill-return receptacle 104 is in the dotted-line position of FIG. 11, it will prevent removal of coins from the coin-return cup 101 via the opening 90, but it will still permit coins to enter that coin-return cup via the opening 88.

The numeral 119 denotes a switch which is mounted adjacent the wall 94, as shown by FIGS. 6 and 13; and the actuator 121 of that switch underlies the rod 118 which extends between the lower portions of the side walls 112 and 114 of the bill-return receptacle 104. The numeral 120 denotes a second switch which is mounted adjacent the switch 119; and the actuator 122 of the switch 120 also underlies the rod 118. The contacts of those switches are shown in FIG. 17; and, whenever the bill-return receptacle 104 is in the solidline position of FIG. 11, those contacts will be in the closed positions shown by FIG. 17. However, when that bill-return receptacle is moved toward the dotted-line position of FIG. 1 1, the rod 118 will move upwardly out of engagement with the actuators 121 and 122 of the switches 119 and 120, respectively, and thus will permit the contacts of those switches to open.

As the bill-return receptacle 106 is moved into the dotted-line position of FIG. 1 1, the rear portion 108 of clockwise direction in FIG. 11. However, the forward portion 106 of that bill-retum receptacle 104 will move far enough forwardly and. downwardly to provide full access to the interior of that bill-return receptacle. When the rear portion 108 of the bill-return receptacle 104 engages the inner surface of the front wall 20, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 11, that bill-return receptacle will again block access to the passage defined by the walls 20, 22, 32 and 94.

The numeral 124 denotes a pivot which is secured to the wall 22, as indicated by FIGS. 11 and 13; and a latch 126 is rotatably mounted on that pivot. A helical extension spring 128 has one end thereof hooked to that catch and has the other end thereof hooked to the pin 123; and that spring biases that latch for movement out of the position shown by FIG. 11. The plunger of a solenoid 130 is pinned to the lower end of the latch 126; and,'although the spring 128 will normally hold that latch out of the path of the rod 118, the solenoid 130 can overcome the force of that spring and can hold the upper end of that latch in position to block movement of the rod 118, as shown by FIG. 11 and thus block movement of the bill-return receptacle 104 from the solid-line position to the dotted-line position in FIG. 1 1.

The numeral 132 in FIG. 4 denotes a bushing which is mounted within an opening in the front wall 20; and that opening is located in the upper one-half of that wall. A similar bushing 134 is mounted within an opening in the rear wall 32, as indicated by FIGS. 2 and 9; and the axes of the bushings 132 and 134 are coaxial. The numeral 136 denotes a cam which has a cylindrical hub rotatably mounted within the bushing 132; and that cam has two flat faces, as indicated by FIGS. 1 and 5. The numeral 138 denotes a combination cam and crankarm which has a cylindrical hub rotatably mounted within the bushing 134, as shown by FIG. 9.

The combination cam and crankarm 138 has an arcuateslot 140 therein, has a large radius section 142, a small radius section 144, a second large radius section 146, and a second small radius section 148. The small radius section 144 is located between one end of the large radius section 142 and the large radius section 146, while the small radius section 148 is located between the other end of the large radius section 142 and the large radius section 146,. A pin 150 is supported by, and extends forwardly from, the forward face of the combination cam and crankarm 138; and that pin rotatably supports a connector 152. A helical extension spring 153 extends through an opening in the connector 154 and has its upper end hooked around a pin which extends rearwardly from the rear wall 32. That spring biases the cam 138 into the position shown by bodiment of the present invention, the platform 160 I from the hub of that cam; and that cam is held against rotation relative to'that stub shaft by a pin, as shown by FIG. 4. The numeral 158 denotes a shaft which extends between, and which is coaxial with, the stub shafts I54 and 156; and that shaft has sockets in the ends thereof into which the confronting ends of the stub shafts 154 and 156 are pressed. The engagements between the sockets in the shaft 158 and the stub shafts 154 and 156 are sufficiently intimate to prevent relative rotation between that shaft and those stub shafts. The numeral 160 denotes a platform which is secured to, and which rotates with, the shaft 158. In the said one preferred emand the shaft 158 are formed as an extrusion. The hubs of the cam 136 and of the combination cam and crankarm 138 coact with the bushings 132 and 134, respectively, to facilitate ready rotation of the platform 160 within the chamber 161 which is defined by that platform and the walls 20, 22, 26 and 32.

The platform 160 is rectangular in plan, it is longer that a U. S. dollar bill, it is much wider than such a bill, it has the front and rear edges thereof immediately adjacent the inner faces of the front and rear walls 20 and 32, and it has the side edges thereof immediately adjacent the inner faces of the side walls 22 and 26, The

upper surface of that platform constitutes a movable disposed on opposite sides of the cam FIGS. 2, .6 and 7; but that spring can yield to permit that cam to rotate to the position shown by FIG. 8 or to a position 180 from the FIG. 8 position.

The numeral 154 in FIG. 9 denotes a stub shaft which extends through the combination cam and crankarm 138 and which extends forwardly from the hub of that combination cam and crankarm; and that combination cam and crank arm is held against rotation relative to that stub shaft by a pin, as shown by FIG. 9. The numeral 156 in FIG. 4 denotes a stub shaft which extends through the cam 136 and which extends rearwardly bottom for the chamber 161, and that upper surface is very smooth; and hence that upper surface can receive paper currency, and can then respond to rotation of permit that papercurrency to move downwardly and away from that platform. The portions of the walls 20, 22, 26 and 32 which areadjacent the platform are vertical and are smooth and uninterrupted, and hence those walls will not intercept bills which are moving downwardly and away from the platform 160. As a result, the chamber 161 can receive and hold paper currency, and can then release that paper currency for movement downwardly into either of the passages which are'defined by the wall 94 and the lower portions 'of the walls 20, 22, 26 and 32; and that chamber can do so without permitting that paper currency to stick or jam within that chamber.

The numeral 162 denotes a resilient yoke which has a narrow slot in the closed end thereof telescoped over the uppermost of the projections 96 on the wall 94. A cotter pin 163 extends through aligned openings in that yoke and in that uppermost projection to hold that yoke in assembled relation with the wall 94, and thus in assembled relation with the housing defined by the walls 20, 22, 26 and 32. The arms of the yoke 162 are 136; and a helical extension spring 164 holds the confronting faces of the arms of thatyoke in engagement with that cam.

Whenever the platform 160 is in the horizontal position indicated by FIGS. 1-4 and 6, the two flat faces of the cam 136 will be vertically directed, and they will of the cam 136; and, at such time, the restorative force within that yoke will be substantial. The spring 153 will be additionally extended as the platform 160 is moved from the horizontal position of FIGS. 14 and 6 to the that platform about the axis of the shaft 158, to freely vertical position indicated by FIGS. and 8, or to a vertical position displaced 180 from that vertical position. Consequently, the spring 153 will tend to restore the platform 160 to the horizontal position pf FIGS. 1-4 and 6; and the restorative forces within yoke 162 and within spring 164 will tend to help the spring 153 return that platform to its normal, horizontal position.

The numeral 166 denotes a pivot which extends rearwardly from the lower portion of the rear wall 32 at a point above the notch 34, as indicated by FIGS. 6-8. A lever 168 has one end thereof rotatably mounted on the pivot 166; and that lever has a roller type cam follower 170 mounted thereon intermediate the ends thereof. A pin 172 rotatably secures the left-hand end of the lever 168 to the lower end of a vertically directed lever 174, as those levers are viewed in FIGS. 6-8; and a pin 176 is secured to the upper end of the lever 174, and that pin extends through the slot 140 in the combination cam and crankarm 138, as shown by FIG. 9. A helical extension spring 178 has one end thereof hooked through an opeining in the lower end of the lever 174, and has the other end hooked around a pin which projects rearwardly from the rear wall 32, as shown by FIGS. 6-8.

The numeral 180 denotes a bracket which is secured to the wall 26, as shown by FIG. and that bracket supports a solenoid 182. A pivot 184 is secured to, and extends rearwardly from, the rear wall 32, as indicated by FIGS. 6-8; and a generally L-shaped lever 186 is rotatably mounted on that pivot. The left-hand end of that lever is rotatably secured to the plunger of the solenoid 182 by a pin; and the right-hand end of that lever has a roller 188 thereon which bears against the left-hand side of the lower portion of the lever 174.

The numeral 190 denotes a bracket which is securedto the wall 22 adjacent the lower portion of that wall, as indicated by FIGS. 2 and 6; and that bracket supports a motor 192 which is equipped with a gear train. The output shaft 194 of that motor has an inner cam 1 96 and an outer cam 198 fixedly secured thereto. In the said one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner cam 196 and the outer cam 198 are formed as a unit. As indicated by FIGS. 7 and 8, the inner cam 196 is generally elliptical; and it is smaller than, and it is mounted eccentrically of, the generally circular outer cam 198. That outer cam has a reducedradius dwell 200 therein. The numeral 202 denotes a switch which is mounted adjacent the outer cam 198; and the actuator 204 of that switch rests in the reduced-radius dwell 200 whenever the money-handling device is in its standby condition. However, that actuator can be raised upwardly and then held in raised position by the normal-radius portion of the periphery of that outer cam. The numeral 206 denotes a switch which is mounted at the rear of the rear wall 32 adjacent the combination cam and crankarm 138; and the actuator 208 of that switch is urged against the periphery of that combination cam and crankarm by a spring, not shown, within that switch. The numeral 210 denotes a further switch which is mounted at the rear of the rear wall 32; and the actuator 212 of that switch is urged against the periphery of that combination cam and crankarm by a spring, not shown, within that switch.

The numeral 214 in FIGS. 11, and 16 denotes an elongated, resilient strap which has the forward end thereof riveted to the outer face of the wall 22. Leaftype springs 216 and 218, which are bowed and which have re-entrant lower ends, have the upper ends thereof secured to the resilient strap 214 by rivets, as shown by FIG. 15. The numeral 220 generally denotes a deflector which has a blade-like portion 222 with pin-like projections 224 extending laterally from it; and those projections extend through openings within the resilient strap 214, and thus mormally hold that deflector in assembled relation with that strap. The deflector 220 has a horizontally directed, elongated portion 226 of generally triangular cross section; and that portion extends inwardly through an opening 228 in the wall 22, as shown by FIGS. 11 and 15. The numeral 230 generally denotes a deflector which can be identical to the defelctor 220; and that deflector has a bladelike portion 232 with pin-like projections 234 which extend through openings in the resilient strap 214. The deflector 230 has a horizontally directed elongated portion 236 of generally triangular cross section; and that portion extends inwardly through an opening 238 in the wall 22, as indicated by FIG. 11.

The numeral 240 denotes a bracket which is secured to the wall 26; and that bracket supports a rearwardly extending pivot 242. A latch 244 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 242; and a helical extension spring 246 urges the upper end of that latch inwardly through the slot 30 in the wall 26, as shown by FIG. 6. A solenoid 248 has the plunger thereof pinned to the lever 244; and that solenoid can overcome the force applied by the spring 246, and thus can rotate the upper end of the latch 244 out of the opening 30. Whenever the solenoid 248 is deenergized, the spring 246 will hold the upper end of the lever 244 within the opening 30, and thus will hold that upper end in position wherein it overlies that edge of the platform which is close to the wall 26. In doing so, that latch prevents rotation of that platform in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6. However, energization of the solenoid 248 will rotate the upper end of the latch 244 out of the slot 30, and thus will rotate that upper end out of the path of that edge of the platform 160 which is adjacent the wall 26.

The numeral 250 denotes a guide which is secured to the inner surface of the wall 26 a short distance below the upper edge of that wall. As indicated by FIG. 6, the upper surface of that guide inclines downwardly and inwardly from the inner surface of the wall 26; and, as indicated by FIG. 3, that guide inclines downwardly and rearwardly at'a shallow angle from the front wall 20. That guide overlies the gap which exists between the platform 160 and the inner surface of the wall 26 whenever that platform is in the horizontal position of FIGS. 14 and 6;-and it will act to deflect bills away from that gap.

The numeral 252 denotes a forwardly and upwardly inclined portion of the horizontally directed flange 25 at the upper edge of the wall 22. That forwardly and upwardly inclined portion defines the rear edge of an opening 253 in that horizontally directed flange, and that opening is adjacent the closed end of the U- shaped bracket 40; and it accommodates U. S. dollar bills which have been tested and found acceptable by the currency validator 58. As indicated by FIG. 3, that currency validator has a wall 254 with a forwardly and upwardly inclined lip which is adjacent the upper and forward edge of the portion 252 of the horizontally directed flange 25 on the wall 22. A guide 256 is mounted within the currency validator 58; and that guide extends downwardly and rearwardly to a point immediately adjacent the forward and upper edge of the portion 252. A pivot 258 extends transversely of the currency validator 58j and a pulley 260, and a similar pulley, not shown, are mounted on that shaft. A further guide 262 is displaced to the right of the guide 256 in FIG. 3; and those guides will coact to cause bills, which have been tested and accepted by the currency validator 58, to incline downwardly and slightly to the left. A roller 264 is mounted in register with a belt, not shown, which passes around the pulley 260; and a similar roller, not shown, is mounted in register with a belt which passes around the pulley that also is mounted on the shaft 258. Those rollers help move bills downwardly between and beyond the guides 256 and 262.

The numeral 266 denotes a pivot which extends tranversely of the U-shaped bracket 40, and which has the ends thereof extending through and beyond slots 268 in the walls of that bracket. A roller 270 with a serrated periphery is rotatably mounted on that pivot; and 1 other serrated-periphery roller against the belts which pass around the pulley 260 and its counterpart. The roller 270 and the other serrated-periphery roller coact withthe belts which pass around the pulley 260 and its counterpart to effectively move bills, which have been tested and accepted by the currency validator S8, downwardly toward the guide 250.

Referring particularly to FIG. 17, the numeral 276 denotes a conductor which is connected to one side of a source of 115 volt AC; and the numeral 302 de-. notes a conductor which is connected to the other side of that source. The conductor 302 extends to the movable contact of the switch 119; and that switch is closed as long as the bill-return receptacle 104 is in the solid-line position of FIG. 11. That conductor also extends to movable relay contacts 296 and 300. A conductor 303 extends from the conductor 302 to a movable relay contact 284 and to a movable relay contact 286. Those relay contacts and movable relay contacts 282, 288 and 290 are controlled by a vend relay coil 280; and one terminal of that relay coil is connected to the conductor 276 by a conductor 278, while the other terminal of that relay coil is connected to the stationary relay contact 282 and to a movable relay contact 298. The movable relay contact 298, the movable relay contacts 296 and 300, and the movable relay contact 294 are controlled by a cancel relay coil 292. One terminal of the relay coil 292 is connected to the conductor 276 by the conductor 278, and the other terminal of that relay coil is connected to the stationary relay contacts 288 and 294 and to the left-hand stationary contact of switch 206.

The numerals 304, 306, 308 and 310 denote lamps;

and the upper terminal of each of those lamps is connected to the conductor 276 by the conductor 278.

The lower terminals of those lamps are connected, re-' spectively, to the stationary contacts 336, 338, 340 and 342 of a stepper-type credit accumulator which has a movable contact 334, and also to stationary relay contacts 344, 346, 348 and 350. The movable contact 334 of the stepper-type credit accumulator is connected to the upper stationary contact of a 25 cent coin switch 328; and the movable contact of the latter switch is controlled by a coin-receiving actuator 329 shown in FIG. 2. The movable contact of the coin switch 328 is connected to the upper, normally closed stationary contact of a delivery switch 326; and the movable contact of that delivery switch is connected to the upper, normally closed stationary contact of a switch 323 that is controlled by a re-set motor 322. The lower, normally open stationary contacts of the switches 323 and 326 are connected to one terminal of the re-set motor 332, to the right-hand, normally open stationary contact of a switch 320, and to the stationary relay contact 300. The, other terminal of the re-set motor 322 is connected to the conductor 276 by a conductor 325. One terminal of a coin-return electromagnet 318, one terminal of a delivery solenoid 324, one terminal of a stepper electromagnet 330 of the credit accumulator, and one terminal of a second stepper electromagnet 332 of that credit accumulator also are connectedto the conductor 276 by the conductor 325. The other terminal of the coin-return electromagnet 318, and the left-hand, normally closed stationary contact of the switch 320, are connected to a conductor 331 which extendsto the movable relay contacts 282 and 294, to one terminal of a primary winding 312 of a transformer, to a movable relay contact 314, and to a movable relay contact 352. The other terminal of the primary winding 312 is connected to conductor 276; and the secondary winding, not shown, of that transformer will supply 24 volts AC. to the currency validator 5.8. The stationary relay contact 314 is connected to the other terminal of the stepper electromagnet 332; and the stationary relay contact 352 is connected to the movable contact of a cancel switch 316 that. is operated by the CANCEL pushbutton 52. The other terminal of the delivery solenoid 324 is connected to the stationary relay contact 286, and the other terminal of the stepper electromagnet 330 is connected to the lower, normally open stationary contact of the 25 cent coin switch 328.

One terminal of the solenoid 130, one terminal of the solenoid 182, one terminal of the motor 192 ,'and one terminal of the solenoid 248 are connected to the conductor 276 by the conductor 325. The other terminal of the solenoid 130 is connected to the stationary relay contact 284, to the stationary relay contact 296, and to the movable contact of switch and the stationary contact of switch 202. The other terminal of the solenoid 182 is connected to the stationary relay contact 288, to the stationary relay contact 294 and to the left-hand, normally open stationary contact of switch 206. The other terminals of motor 192 and of solenoid 248 are connected together and to the stationary contact of switch 120. The movable contact of switch 202 is connected to the stationary contact of switch 119, to the movable contact of switch 206, and to the movable contacts of switches 320 and 323. The left-hand relay contacts 344, 346, 348 and 350 are connected together and to the stationary relay contact 13 298. The stationary contact of switch 316 is connected to movable relay contact 288. The right-hand, nor- 7 mally closed stationary contact of switch 206 is connected to the movable contact of switch 210; and the stationary contact of the latter switch is connected to movable relay contact 290.

The movable relay contact 344 is one of a plurality of relay contacts which are controlled by a selection relay, not shown, of a vending machine; and that selection relay is selectively actuated by a selection switch, not shown. When that selection relay is energized by the closing of that selection switch, one of the contacts, not shown, of that relay will pre-set the vending circuit for the product corresponding to that selection switch; but that vending circuit will be unable to initiate the vending of that product until the relay contacts 290 close, and thereby connect the stationary relay contact 290 to the conductor 302. The movable relay contact 346 is one of a plurality of relay contacts which are controlled by a second selection relay, not shown, of the vending machine; and that second selection relay is selectively actuated by a second selection switch, not shown. When that second relay is energized by the closing of that second selection switch, one of the contacts, not shown, of that second relay will preset the vending circuit for the product corresponding to that second selection switch; but that vending circuit will be unable to initiate the vending of that product until the relay contacts 290 close, and thereby connect the stationary relay contact 290 to the conductor 302. The movable relay contact 348 is one of a plurality of relay contacts which are controlled by a third selection relay, not shown, of the vending machine; and that third selection relay is selectively actuated by a third selection switch, not shown. When that third selection relay is energized by the closing of that third selection switch, one of the contacts, not shown, of that third relay will pre-set the vending circuit for the product corresponding to that third selection switch; but that vending circuit will be unable to initiate the vending of that product until the relay contacts 290 shown. When that fourth selection relay is energized by the closing of that fourth selection switch, one of the contacts, not shown, of that fourth relay will preset the vending circuit for the product corresponding to that fourth switch; but that venidng circuit will be unable to initiate the vending of that product until the relay contacts 290 close, and thereby connect the stationary relay contact 290 to the conductor 302.

The numeral 319 in FIG. 2 denotes the armature of the coin-return electromagnet 318; and that armature has a coin-returning finger 321 thereon. Whenever that coin-return electromagnet is energized, it will hold that coin-returning finger out of the coin passages of the slug rejector 79; but whenever that coin-return electromagnetic is de-energized, it will permit that coin-returning finger to enter those coin passages and direct any subsequently-inserted coins to the return coin chute 76. g

The numeral 354 in FIG. 2 denotes a pivot in the coin-escrow 83; and that pivot rotatably supports inclined floors 356 and 358. Springs, not shown, urge those floors to the upwardly and outwardly inclined positions shown by FIG. 2; but the delivery solenoid 324 will move the inclined floor 356 downwardly to coin-releasing postion whenever that solenoid is energized. A cam-controlled linkage, not shown, will move the inclined floor 358' downwardly to coin-releasing position prior to the end of each revolution of the output shaft of the re-set motor 322. Those inclined floors and springs, and the means for moving those inclined floors downwardly to coin-releasing positions are of standard and usual design; and they are not, per se, parts of the present invention.

Operation of the Money-Handling Device: In the stand-by condition of the money-handling device, the platform 160 will respond to the forces within the springs 153 and 164 and within the yoke 162 to assume the horizontal position of FIGS. l-4'and 6 and thus will completely overlie the passage defined by the walls 20, 22, 32 and 94, and also will completely overlie the passage defined by the walls 20, 26,32 and 94. Further, that platform will serve as a movable bottom for the chamber 161, and thus will be in position to intercept and hold bills that are introduced into that chamber by the currency validator 58. Because the shaft 158 is spaced below the level of the horizontally directed flange 25 a distance greater than one-half of the width of the platform 160, bills which are introduced into the chamber 161 by the currency validator 58 will be able to free-fall downwardly onto that platform whether thosebills are wet, fiat, torn, folded, split, wrinkled or rolled. The floors 356 and 358 in the coinescrow 83 will be in the outwardly and upwardly inclined positions of FIG. 2, and thus will be in position to intercept and hold quarters that are tested and accepted by the slug rejector 79. The levers 168, 174 and 186, the combination crankarm and cam 138, and the latch 244 will be in the positions shown by FIG. 6. The bill-return receptacle 104 and the switch actuators 121 and 122 will be in the positions shown by FIGS. 11, 13 and 14; but the spring 128 will be holding the latch 126 out of the path of the rod 118. The stand-by positions of the various electrical components of the moneyhandling device are shown in FIG. 17; ,and current will flow from conductor 276 via primary winding 312, conductor 331, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to conductor 302. Current also will flow from conductor 276 via conductor 325, coin-return electromagnet 318, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to the conductor 302; and hence that coin-return electromagnet will hold the coin-returning finger 321 out of the path of coins moving through the slug rejector 79. That coin-return electromagnet, or an electromagnet, not shown, in parallel with it, also will close contacts that will supply power to the starting switch of the currency validator 58.

For purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that the credit accumulator has been set to illuminate the lamps 304, 306, 308, and 310, and to pre-set the circuits for the selection relay contacts 344, 346, 348 and 350, when $1.25, $2.50, $3.75, and $4.00, respec: tively, have been accepted and accredited. The stepper contact 336 corresponds to a credit of $1.25, the stepper contact 338 corresponds to a credit of $2.50, the stepper contact 340 corresponds to a credit of $3.75,

and the stepper contact 342 corresponds to a credit of $4.00.

If an authentic, un-bent quarter is introduced into the coin slot 46, it will roll rearwardly through the coin guide 62, and then fall downwardly into the coin inlet of the slug rejector 79. That quarter will be accepted by that slug rejector, and it will be directed to the switch bracket 81; and, as it passes downwardly through that switch bracket, it will move the switch actuator 329 downwardly and'then release that switch actuator. Thereafter, that quarter will come to rest in the V-shaped recess defined by the inclined floors 3'56 and 358 of the coin-escrow 83. The momentary downward movement of switch actuator 329 will cause the movable contact of the $.25 coin switch 328 to momentarily engage the lower stationary contact of that switch; and, thereupon, current will momentarily flow from conductor 276 via'conductor 325, stepper electromagnet 330, the lower and movable contacts of switch 328, the upper and movable contacts of switch 326, the upper and movable contacts of switch 323, and switch 119 to conductor 302. The resulting momentary energization of the stepper electromagnet 330 will cause the movable contact 334 to move one step toward, but to stop four steps short of, the stepper contact 336. If a valid dollar bill is then placed on the bill-supporting platform 56 and moved inwardly through the slot 54, the starting switch of the currency validator 58 will energize .the motor of that currency validator; and, simultaneously, the relay contacts 352 will be opened thereby isolating the cancel switch 316 from conductor 302. in this way, the moneyhandling device keeps a patron from energizing the cancel relay coil 292 while the motor of the currency validator 58 is energized.

As the bill issues from the currency validator 58, the

relay contacts 314 willclose for about 100 ms.,- and will thereby momentarily permit current to flow from conductor 276 via conductor 325, stepper electromagnet 332, relay contacts 314, conductor 331, the lefthand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to conductor 302. The resulting momentary energization of the stepper electromagnet 332 will cause the movable contact 334 to move four steps into engagement with the fixed contact 336, and thereby illuminate the lamp 304 and pre-set the circuit for the selection relay contacts 344. As the motor of the currency validator becomes de-energized, the relay contacts 3527will re-close.

As the bill issues from the currency validator 58, it

I will be guided downwardly and to the left by guide 262 and by the roller 270 and its counterpart. The guide 256 and the upwardly and forwardly inclined portion 152 on the horizontally directed flange 25 will guide the leading edge of the bill downwardly through the opening 253 into the chamber 161; and, as that leading edge 'moves downwardly, it will engage the upper surface of the guide 250 and will coact with that upper surface to cause the bill to assume a generally horizontal position. Also, the guide 250 will cause the bill to move awayfrom the narrow gap between the wall 26 and the adjacent side of the platform 160. Specifically, the leading edge of the bill will be guided for movement from right to left in FIG. 3 to cause that bill to assume a position generally parallel to the platform 160; and that bill also will be forced to move away from the narrow gap between the wall 26 and the lefthand side of the platform 160. Consequently, the guide 250 will act as a deflector which will keep the edges of the bill from entering and sticking within the narrow gap between the wall 26 and the left-hand side of the platform 160. The distance between the opening 252 and the platform 160 is great enough to permit the bill to fully enter the chamber 161 and to come to rest on that platform, whether that bill is flat, torn, folded, split, wrinkled or rolled.

If the patron then momentarily presses the selection button which controls the selection relay contacts 344, current will flow from conductor 276 via conductor 278, vend relay coil. 280, relay contacts 298, selection relay contacts 344, the stationary and movable stepper contacts 336 and 334, the upper and movable contacts of switch 328, the upper and movable contacts of switch 326, the upper and movable contacts of switch 323, and switch 1 19 to the conductor 302. The resulting energization of that vend relay coil will close relay contacts 282, 284, 286 and 290 and will open relay contacts 288; and the closing of relay contacts 282 will establish a holding cirucit for that vend relay coil via conductors 276 and 278, that vend relay coil, relay contacts 282, conductor 331, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch I 19 to the conductor 302. The closing of relay'contacts 284 energizes solenoid 130 via conductors 276 and 325, solenoid 130, relay contacts 284, and conductor 303 to conductor 302; and the energization of that solenoid will cause the latch 126 to move into position above I of the path of the left-hand end of the platform 126 as that platform is viewed in FIG. 6; and energization of the motor 192 will start the cams 196 and 198 rotating in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 6. The closing of relay contacts 286 will energize delivery solenoid 324 via conductors 2.76 and 325, solenoid 324,

relay contacts 286, and'conductor 303 to the conductor 302; and that solenoid will shift the movable contact of switch 326 downwardly into engagement with the lower, stationary contact of that switch thereby darkening the lamp 304 and isolating the selection relay contacts 344 from the conductor 302, and also starting the re-set motor 322 by a circuit which extends from conductor 276 via conductor 325, re-set motor 322, the lower and movable contacts of switch 326, the upper and movable contacts of switch 323, and switch 119 to conductor 302. In addition, the delivery solenoid 324 will move the inclined floor 356 downwardly to coin-releasing position; and will thereby permit the quarter, which was held within the coin-escrow 83, to slide downwardly along that floor; through the accepted coin chute 78, and into the coin cash box 77. The opening of relay contacts 288 will isolate the cancel switch 316 from the cancel relay coil 292 and from the solenoid I82; and thus will keep any actuation of the CANCEL push button 52 from energizing that cancel relay coil or that solenoid. The closing of relay contacts 290 is not significant at this time because the switch 210 is open.

As the motor 192 rotates the inner cam 196 in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 7, that cam will engage the cam follower 170 on the lever 168, and will thereby force that lever to rotate in the counter clockwise direction. Because the opening of relay contacts 288 kept the solenoid 182 from becoming energized, the spring 178 will hold the pin 176 at the upper end of lever 174 adjacent the left-hand end of the slot 140 in the combination crankarm and cam 138 as shown by FIG. 6; and hence the downward movement of the left-hand end of the lever 168 will force that combination crankarm and cam and the platform 160 to rotate in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 6. Shortly after the motor 192 starts rotating its output shaft 194 in the counter clockwise direction, the rise at the trailing edge of the dwell 200 in the outer cam 198 will engage the actuator 204 of switch 202 and thereby close the switch to establish a holding circuit for that motor and for the solenoids 130 and 248 via conductors 276 and 325, parallel-connected solenoids 130 and 248 and mtoor 192, switch 202, and switch 119 to the conductor 302. The current through solenoid 130 will flow directly to the switch 202, but the current through solenoid 248 and motor 192 will flow through the switch 120 before it reaches the switch 202.

Continued counter clockwise rotation of the inner cam 196 will cause that cam to act through the cam follower 170 and the levers 168 and 174 to rotate the combination crankarm and cam 138, and hence the platform 160, into positions which are displaced 90 in the counter clockwise direction from the position of FIG. 6. At such times, that combination crankarm and cam and that platform will occupy a position which is displaced 180 from the position of FIG. 8.

During some part of the rotation of the platform 160 through 90 in the counter clockwise direction, the bill resting on that platform willslide donwardly and to the left in FIG. 6; and that bill will free-fall downwardly into the bottom of the passage which is defined by the walls 20, 26, 32 and 94. That bill willcome to rest within a cash box which is suggested by dotted lines and which is denoted by the numeral 360 in FIGS. 1 and 6. That cash box can be of any suitable design and construction; but it should be formed to freely accept and hold bills which are released by, and which freefall downwardly from, the platform 160. The inner surface of the wall 26 is perfectly smooth and is vertical, and hence that wall can not offer any obstruction to the free-fall of any bill; and, similarly, the upper surface of the platform 160 is perfectly smooth and, at

that time, is vertical, and hence at that time that platform can not offer any obstruction to the free-fall of any bill. Consequently, whether a bill is wet, flat, torn, folded, split, wrinkled or rolled, that bill will promptly and freely fall downwardly below the level of the lower edge of the platform 160 and move to the cash box As the combination crankarm and cam 138 reaches the end of its 90 of counter clockwise rotation from the position of FIG. 6, the large-radius portion 146 thereof will engage the actuator 212 of the switch 210 switch 206, and the switch 119; and hence the relay contacts 290 will apply a pulse to the vending machine which will cause the vending circuit, for the product corresponding to the selection switch that controls the selection relay contacts 344, to initiate the vending of that product.

About ms. after the large-radius portion 146 of the combination crankarm and cam 138 has closed the switch 210, a cam driven by the re-set motor 322 will shift the movable contact of switch 320 out of its lefthand position and into its right-hand position, and also will shift the movable contact of switch 323 out of its upper position and into its lower position. The shifting of the movable contact of switch 320 out of its lefthand position will de-energize the vend relay coil 280 and also will de-energize the coin-return electromagnet 318. The deenergization of the vend relay coil 280 will permit relay contacts 282, 284, 286 and 290 to reopen and will permit relay contacts 288 to re-close the re-opening of relay contacts 282 interrupting the holding circuit for that vend relay coil, the re-opening of relay contacts 284 interrupting the initial energizing circuit for solenoids and 248 and motor 192 but not de-energizing those components because of the holding circuit through switch 202, the re-opening of relay contacts 286 de-energizing solenoid 324' with consequent return of themovable contact of switch 326 to its upper position and with consequent return of the inclined floor 356, the re-opening of relay contacts 290 terminating the pulse applied to the vending machine by those relay contacts, and the re-closing of relay contacts 288 re-connecting solenoid 182 and cancelrelay coil 292 to the cancel switch 316. The deenergization of coin-return electromagnet 318 will enable the coin-intercepting finger 321 to re-enter the coin passages in the slug rejector 79 to reject any additionally inserted coins, and also will halt the supplying of power to the starting switch of the currency validator 58 to keep that currency validator from accepting any further bills. The shifting of the movable contact of switch 320 into its right-hand position provides a holding circuit for the re-set motor 322 via conductors 276 and 325, motor 322, the movable and right-hand contacts of switch 320, and the switch 119 to the'conductor 302; but that shifting is not otherwise significant at this time because the relay contacts 300 are open. The shifting of the movable contact of the switch 323 out of its upper position keeps the stepper contacts 334 and 336 and the selection relay contacts 344 isolated from the conductor 302 despite the return of the movable contact of the switch 326 to its upper position; and the shifting of the movable contact of switch 323 into I engagement with the lower fixed contact of that switch provides a further holding circuit for the re-set motor 322 via conductors 276 and 325, motor 322, the lower and movable contacts of switch 323, and the switch 119 to the conductor 302.

The inner cam 196 will hold the cam follower 170 down, and thus will act through the levers 168 and 174, and the combination crankarm and cam 138, to hold the platform in vertical position for somewhat more than one-half of a revolution of the output shaft 194 of motor 192; and thus will give the bill, which was resting on that platform, ample time to freefall downwardly below the lower edge of that platform and to free-fall to the cash box 360.

The motors 192 and 322 will continue to rotate the cams on the output shafts thereof; and the continued rotation of the inner cam 196 will permit the cam follower 170 and the lever 168 to start moving upwardly; and will thereby enable the springs 153 and 164 and the yoke 162 to rotate the combination crankshaft and cam 138 and the platform 160 in the clockwise direction toward their normal positions. As the output shaft 194 of the motor 192 completes a revolution, the combination crankarm and 'cam 138 and the platform 160 will return to the normal positions of FIG. 6; and the dwell 200 in outer cam 198 will move into register with actuator 204 of switch 202 re-opening that switch, and de-energizing solenoids '130 and 248 and motor 192. At such time, the components of the moneyhandlingdevice will be in the'positions of FIGS. 1 and The re-set motor 322, which rotates slower than the motor 192, will remain energized, via the holding circuit which includes the movable and lower contacts of switches 323 and 119. In the said preferred embodiment, re-set motor 322 rotates an additional one and one-half seconds after motor 192 comes to rest; and before re-set motor 322 is de-energized, it will return movable stepper contact 334 to the position of FIG. 17, and re-wind the steppentype credit accumulator Spring as it does so. In addition, that motor will act through the cam-controlled linkage, not shown, to move the inclined floor 358 of the coin-escrow 83 downwardly to its coin-releasing position, and will then permit that floor to return to its normal upwardly inclined position. The downward movement of the inclined floor 358 can, if desired, be started shortly after the re-set motor 322 is energized, but that inclined floor will not reach its coin-releasing position until after the inclined floor 356 has been moved to its coinreleasing position; and hence the downward movement of the inclined floor 358 will not cause any coins to pass to the coin guide 80 via the return coin chute 86 of the coin-escrow 83 because of the prior downward movement of the inclined floor 356 by solenoid 324. As the re-set motor 322 completes a revolution of the output shaft thereof, the movable contacts of switches 320 and 323 will return to the positions of FIG. 17 re-energizing the coin-return electromagnet 318, reconnecting the stepper contact334 to the conductor 302, and de-energizing that re-set motor.

During .the herein-described cycle of the moneyhandling device, a pulsewas supplied to the vending machine by the relay contacts 290, the deposited quarter was transferred to the coin cash box 77 by the downward movement of the inclined floor 356 of the coin-escrow 83, and the deposited dollar bill was transferred to the cash box 360 by the rotation of the platform 160. Also, during the major portion of that cycle, the coin-return electromagnet 318 was de-energized to keep additional coins and additional bills from being,

accepted. Further, the stepper-type credit accumulator was re-set; and the various components of FIG. 17 were permitted to resume their standby conditions. The movable contact of switch 206 remained in its righthand position throughout the 90 counter clockwise rotation, and the subsequent 90? clockwise rotation, of the combination crankarm and cam 138; because the actuator 208 of that switch was continuously engaged by the large-radius portion 142 of that combination crankarm and cam.

If a patron inserts any combination of dollar bills and quarters which adds up to $2.50, the lamp 306 will become illuminated by current flowing from conductor 276 via conductor 278, lamp 306, stationary and movable stepper contacts 338 and 334, the upper and movable contacts of switch 328, the upper and movable contacts of switch 326, the upper and movable contacts of switch 323, and switch 1 I9 to the conductor 302. If the patron then closes the selection switch which effects closing of relay contacts 346, the moneyhandling device will pass through a cycle of operation which will be essentially identical to the previously described cycle of operation. However, such a proposed cycle of operation will differ from the previously described cycle of operation in that more money will be held in escrow prior to theinitiation of the said proposed cycle of operation, and more money will be transferred to the cash boxes 77 and 360. During the said proposed cycle of operation of the moneyhandling device, a vend pulse will be supplied to the vending machine by the relay contacts 290, the deposited quarters will be transferred to the cash box 77 by the downward movement of the floor 356 of the coinescrow 83, and any deposited dollar bills will be transferred to the cash box 360 by the rotation of the platform 160. Also, during the major portion of said proposed cycle, the coin-return electromagnet 318 will be de-energized to keep additional coins and additional bills from being accepted. Further, the stepper-type credit accumulator will be re-set; and the various electrical components of FIG. 17 will be permitted to resume their standby conditionswThe movable contact of switch 206 will remain in its right-hand position throughout the counter clockwise rotation, and the subsequent 90 clockwise rotation, of the combination crankarm and cam 138; because the actuator 208 of that switch will continuously be engaged by the largeradius portion 142 of that combination crankarm and cam.

If a person inserts any combination of dollar bills and quarters which adds up to $3.75, the lamp 308 will become illuminated by current flowing from conductor 276 via conductor 278, lamp 308, stepper contacts 340 and 334, the upper and movable switch contacts 328, the upper and movable switch contacts 326, the upper and movable switch contacts 323, the switch 119 to the conductor 302. If the patron then closes the selection switch which effects closing of relay contacts 348, the money-handling device will pass through a further cycle of operation which will be substantially identical to the hereinbefore-described cycle of operation. However, such a further proposed cycle of operation will differ from the previously described cycle of operation in that more money will be held in escrow prior to the initiation of the said further proposed cycle of operation, and more money will be transferred to the cash boxes 77 and 360. During the said further proposed cycle of operation, a vend pulse will be supplied to the vending machine by the relay contacts 290, the deposited quarters will be transferred to the cash box 77 by the downward movement of the floor 356 of the coin-escrow 83, and any deposited dollar bills will be transferred to the cash box 360 by the rotation of the platform 160. Also, during the major portion of said further proposed cycle, the coin-return electromagnet 318 will be de-energized to keep additional coins and additional bills from being accepted. Further, the stepper-type credit accumulator will be re-set, and the various components of FIG. 17 will be'permitted to resume their standby condition. The movable control of switch 206 will remain in its right-hand position through-out the ninety degree counter clockwise rotation, and the subsequent ninety degree clockwise rotation, of the combination crankarm and cam 138; because the actuator 208 of that switch will continuously be engaged by the large-radius portion 142 of that combination crankarm and cam.

If a patron inserts any combination of dollar bills and quarters which adds up to $4.00, the lamp 310 will become illuminated by current flowing from conductor 276 via conductor 278, lamp 310, stationary and movable stepper contacts 342 and 334, the upper and movable switch contacts 328, and upper and movable switch contacts 326, the upper and movable switch contacts 323, and the switch 1 19 to the conductor 302. If the patron then closes the selection switch which effects closing of relay contacts 350, the money-handling device will pass through an additional cycle of operation which will be substantially identical to the hereinbefore-described cycle of operation. However, such an additional proposed operation will differ from the hereinbefore-described cycle of operation in that more money will be held in escrow prior to the initiation of the said additional proposed cycle of operation, and more money will be transferred to the cash boxes 77 and 360. During the said additional proposed cycle of operation, a vend pulse will be supplied to the vending machine by the relay contacts 290, any deposited quarters will be transferred to the cash box 77 by the downward movement of the floor 356 of the coinescrow 83, and any deposited bills will be transferred to the cash box 360 by the rotation of the platform 160. Also, during the major portion of said additional proposed cycle, the coin-return electromagnet 318 will be de-energized to keep additional coins and additional bills from being accepted. Further, the steppertype credit accumulator will be re-set, and the various components of FIG. 17 will be permitted to resume their standby condition. The movable contact of switch 206 will remian in its right-hand position throughout the 90 counter clockwise rotation, and the subsequent 90 clockwise rotation, of the combination crankarm and cam 138; because the actuator 208 of that switch will be continuously engaged by the largeradius portion 142 of that combination crankarrn and cam.

In any given cycle of operation, the chamber 161 will be able to fully and freely accommodate and hold all bills which issue from the currency validator 58 whether those bills are wet, flat, torn, folded, split, wrinkled or rolled. Moreover, when the platform 160 is rotated in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 6 to its vertical position, all of those bills will free-fall downwardly through the passage defined by the walls 20, 26, 32 and 94 and enter the cash box 360.

Whenever the money-handling device responds to the closing of any of the selection switches which effects the closing of any of the relay contacts 344, 346, 348 and 350 to initiate a cycle of operation of the money-handling device, the solenoid 130 will be energized at the same instant the motor 192 is energized. This means that the latch 126 will be moved into the position of FIG. 11 at the instant the motor 192 is energized; and hence, once that motor has been energized,

it will be impossible for anyone to move the bill-return v receptacle 104 out of the solid-line position of FIG. 11.

In this way, a patron will automatically be kept from moving that bill-return receptacle out of the solid-line position of FIG. 11 and then reaching up through the passage defined by the walls 20, 22, 32 and 94 and using his fingers to impede or otherwise affect the movement of the platform 160, as that platform moves to a position wherein it will release any bills thereon for free-fall downwardly into the cash box 360.

A person could move the bill-return receptacle 104 out of the solid-line position of FIG. 11 prior to the time the motor 192 was energized because the solenoid would be deenergized and would permit the spring 128 to move the latch 126 out of the path of the rod 118; but, thereupon, the actuator 122 of the switch 120 would move upwardly and permit that switch to open thereby preventing energization of the motor 192 and of the solenoid 248. Because the solenoid 248 would be kept from being energized, the spring 246 would hold the latch 244 squarely in the path of the platform 160, and thus would keep such a person from rotating that platform in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6. Also, the movement of the bill-return receptacle out of the solid-line position of FIG. 1 1 would permit the actuator 121 of switch 119 to move upwardly and permit that switch to open thereby deenergizing the coin-return electromagnet 318, preventing energization of the motor 322, preventing energization of the stepper electromagnet 330, preventing energization of the stepper electromagnet 332, and preventing energization of the vend relay coil 280, This means that althoughsuch a person could move the bill-return receptacle 104 out of the solid-line position of FIG. 11, and could even move that bill-return receptacle all the way to the dotted-line position of FIG. 11, such movement would not benefit that person; because motor 192, solenoid 248, vend relay coil 280, motor 322, and stepper electromagnets 330 and 332 would be kept from becoming energized, and the coin-return electromagnet 318 would become de-' energized. It thus should be apparent that the platform would be locked against rotation in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6; and that the coin-return electromagnet 318 would be kept de-energized to prevent the acceptance of further coins and bills. In this way, the money-handling device of the present invention interlocks the bill-return receptacle 104 with the slug rejec'- tor 79, with the bill validator 58, and with the solenoid 248 in such a way that whenever that bill-return receptacle is moved out of the solid-line position of FIG. 1, that slug rejector will be unable to accept any further coins, that currency validator will be unable to accept any further bills, and that solenoid will permit the latch- 244 to block rotation of the platform 160 toward that bill-return receptacle.

In the event a patron inserts the amount of money represented by any of the stationary stepper contacts 336, 338, 340 and 342 and then decides that he would like to have his money returned, he need only press the push button 52. Thereupon, switch 316 will close, and current will flow from conductor 276 via conductor 278, cancel relay coil 292, relay contacts 288, switch 316, switch 352, conductor 331, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to the conductor 302. Current also will flow from conductor 276 via conductor 325, solenoid 182, relay contacts 288, switch 316, switch 352, conductor 331, the lefthand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to the conductor 302. The resulting energization of relay coil 292 will close relay contacts 294, 296 and 300 and will open relay contacts 298; and the resulting energization of solenoid 182 will rotate the lever 186 in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 6, and will thereby force the lever 174 to assume the position shown by FIG. 7.

The closing of relay contacts 294 will establish a holding circuit for the cancel relay coil 292 from conductor 276 via conductor 278, relay coil 292, relay contacts 294, conductor 331, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to the conductor 302. The closing of relay contacts 294 also will establish a holding circuit for the solenoid 182 from conductor 276 via conductor 325, solenoid 182, relay contacts 294, conductor 331, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to the conductor 302. The closing of relay contacts 296 will energize solenoids 130 and 248 and motor 192 by current flowing from conductor 276 via conductor 325, parallel-connected solenoids. 130 and 248 and motor 192, and relay contacts 296 to the conductor 302. The current flowing through the solenoid coil 130 will pass directly to the relay contacts 296, but the current flowing through the parallel-connected solenoid 248 and motor 192 will pass through the switch 120 before it passes to those relay contacts. The closing of relay contacts 300 will energize the re-set motor 322 by a circuit which extends from conductor 276 via conductor 325, motor 322, and relay contacts 300 to the conductor 302. Opening of the relay contacts 298 will isolate the vend relay coil 280 from the selection relay contacts 344, 346, 348 and 350, and will thereby keep the closing of any of those relay contacts from energizing that relay coil. I

As the motor 192 rotates the inner cam 196 in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 7, that cam will engage the cam follower 170 on the lever 168, and will thereby force that lever to rotate downwardly. Because the closing of relay contacts 294 energizes the solenoid 182, that solenoid and the lever 186 will cause the pin 176 at the upper end of thelever 174 to be adjacent the right-hand end of the arcuate slot 140 in the combination carnkarm and cam 138, as shown by FIG. 7;' and hence the downward movement of the left-hand end of the lever 168 will force that combination crankarm and cam and the platform 160 to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 6. Shortly after the motor 192 starts rotating its output shaft 194 in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 7, the rise at the trailing edge of the dwell 200 in the outer cam 198 will engage the actuator 204 of switch 202 and thereby close that switch to establish a holding circuit for that motor and for the solenoids 130 and 248, all as explained hereinbefore; Continued counter clockwise rotation of the inner cam 196 will cause that cam to act through the cam follower 170 and the levers 168 and 174 to rotate the combination crankarm and cam 138, and hence the platform 160, toward the positions of FIG.

Almost immediately after the combination crankarm and cam 138 starts rotating from the position of FIG. 6 toward the position of FIG. 8, the small-radius portion 148 of that combination crankarm and cam will permit the actuator 208 of the switch 206 to move downwardly and to the right in FIG. 8, and will thereby permit the movable contact of that switch to shift from its right-hand position to its left-hand position thereby providing additional holding circuits for the solenoid 182 and for the cancel relay coil 292. The additional holding circuit for the solenoid 182 extends from conductor 276-via conductor 325, solenoid 182, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 206, and switch 119 to the .conductor 302; and the additional holding circuit for the cancel relay coil 292 extends from conductor 276 via conductor 278, cancel relay coil 292, the left-hand and movable contacts of switch 206, and switch 119 to the conductor 302. Those additional holding circuits will maintain the solenoid 182 and the cancel relay coil 292 energized until the combination crankarm and cam 138 is returned tothe position of FIG. 6.

During some part of the rotation of the platform fromthe position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 8, any bill resting on that platformwill slide downwardly and to the right in FIGS. 6 and 8; and those bills will free-fall downwardly into the bottom of the passage which is defined by the walls 20, 22, 32 and 94. Those bills will come to rest within the return-bill receptacle 104 at the bottom of that passage. The upper and middle portions of the inner surface of the wall 22 are perferctly smooth and are vertical, and hence those portions can not offer any obstruction to the free-fall of any bills; and, similarly, the upper surface of the platform 160 is'perfectly smooth and, at that time, is vertical, and hence, at that time, that platform can not offer any obstruction to the free-fall of any bill. Consequently, whether a bill is wet, flat, torn, folded, split, wrinkled or rolled, that bill will promptly and freely fall downwardly below the level of the lower edge of the platform 160 and move toward the bill-return receptacle 104.

If the edge of any bill tended to engage the inner surface of the wall 22, as that bill moved downwardly toward the bill-return receptacle 104, that edge would not be permitted to enter the narrow gap between the wall 112 of that bill-return receptacle and the inner surface of the wall 22; because the generally triangular portion 236 of the deflector 230 or the generallytriangular portion 226 of the deflector 220 would intercept that edge of that bill and would thereby keep that edge from moving downwardly into that narrow gap. The generally triangular portion 236 or the generally triangular portion 226 would hold that edge of the bill against further downward movement until the rest of that bill had moved downwardly below the level of that generally triangular portion; and, at such time, that edge of that bill would be unable to enter the narrow gap between the wall 22 and the wall 112 of the bill-return receptacle 104. Consequently, no bill which was released from the platform 160, whether that bill was wet, flat, torn, folded, split, wrinkled or rolled, could enter and be stuck within the narrow gap between the wall 112 of the bill-return receptacle 104 and the wall 112.

As the combination crank arm and cam 138 approaches the position of FIG. 8, the large-radius portion 142 thereof will engage the actuator 212 of the switch 210, and force that actuator to move to the right. The resulting closing of the switch 210 will not be significant at this time because the relay contacts 290 are open, and also because the movable contact of switch 206 is out of engagement with the right-hand contact of that switch.

Shortly after the large-radius portion 142 of the combination crankarm and cam 138 has closed the switch 210, a cam driven by the re-set motor 322 will shift the movable contact of switch 320 out of its lefthand position and into its right-hand position, and also will shift the movable contact of switch 323 out of its upper position and into its lower position. The shifting of the movable contact of switch 320 out of its lefthand position will de-energize the coin return electromagnet 318 thereby enabling the coin-intercepting finger 321 to re-enter the coin passages in the slug rejector 79 and reject any additionally inserted coins, and also halting the supplying of power to the starting switch of the currency validator 58 to keep that currency validator from accepting any further bills. The shifting of the movable contact of the switch 320 out of its left-hand position will not de-energize the cancel relay coil 292 and also will not de-energize the solenoid 182, because the movable contact of the switch 206 will be in its left-hand position and will be completing the hereinbefore-described holding circuits for that cancel relay coil and for that solenoid. Consequently, the relay contacts 294, 296 and 300 will remain closed and the relay'contacts 298 will remain open; and the lever 186 will continue to remain in the rotated position of FIGS. 7 and 8. The shifting of the movable contact of the switch 320 into its right-hand position will provide a holding circuit for the re-set motor 322 which extends from conductor 276 via conductor 325, motor 322, the right-hand and movable contacts of switch 320, and switch 119 to the conductor 302. The shifting of the movable contact of the switch 323 out of its upper position will isolate the movable stepper contact 334 and the stationary stepper contacts 336, 338, 340 and 344 from the conductor 302 although the movable contact of switch 326 was permitted to remain in its upper position. This isolation is in addition to the isolation of the selection relay contacts 344, 346, 348 and 350 from the vend relay coil 280 which was provided by the opening of the relay contacts 298. The shifting of the movable contact of the switch 323 downwardly into engagement with the lower fixed contact of that switch establishes a further holding circuit for the -re-set motor 322 which extends from the conductor 276 via the conductor 325, motor 322, the lower and movable contacts of switch 323'and switch 119 of the conductor 302.

The inner cam 196 will hold the cam follower 170 down, and thus will act through the levers 168 and 174 and the combination crankarm and cam 138, to hold the platform 160 in vertical position for somewhat more than one-half of a revolution of the output shaft 194 of motor 192; and thus will give any bill, which was resting on that platform, ample time to free-fall downwardly below the lower edge of that platform and to free-fall to the bill-return receptacle 104. As a result, every bill whether it is wet, flat, torn, folded, split,

wrinkled or rolled will be able to fall downwardly into the bill-return receptacle 104.

The motors 192 and 322 will continue to rotate the cams on the output shafts thereof; and the continued rotation of the inner cam 196 will permit the cam follower 170 and the lever 168 to start moving upwardly, and will thereby enable the springs 153 and 164 and the yoke 162 to rotate the combination crankshaft and the cam 138 and the platform 160 in the counter clockwise direction toward their normal positions. Shortly before the combination crank arm and cam 138 returns to the position of FIGS. 6 and 7, the large-radius portion 142 of the periphery thereof will move out of engagement with the actuator 212 of the switch 210 and will thereby permit that actuator to move to the left with consequent re-opening of that switch. The reopening of that switch will not be significant at this time because the relay contacts 290 are open, and also because the movable contact of the switch 206 is out of engagement with the right-hand contact of that switch. As the combination crank arm and cam approaches the position of FIG. 7, the large-radius portion 142 of the periphery thereof will engage the actuator 208 of the switch 206, and will thereby move that actuator to the left with consequent shifting of the movable contact of that switch out of its left-hand position and into its right-hand position. The shifting of that movable contact into its right-hand position will not be significant at this time because the switch 210 will be open and because the relay contacts 290 will be open; but the shifting of that movable contact out of its left-hand position will de-energize the solenoid 182 and also will de-energize the cancel relay coil 292.

The de-energization of the solenoid 182 will enable the spring 178 to urge the lever 174 out of the position of FIG. 7and into the position of FIG. 6; and as soon as the combination crankarm and cam 138 reaches the position shown by FIGS. 6 and 7, the arcuate slot 140 will permit such movement of that lever. The deenergization of the cancel relay coil 292 will permit the relay contacts 294 to re-open and thus interrupt the initial energizing circuit for that relay coil and for the solenoid 182, will permit the relay contacts 296 to reopen and thus interrupt the initial energizing circuit for the solenoids 130 and 248 and the'motor 192, will permit the relay contacts 300 to re-open and thus interrupt the initial energizing circuit for the re-set motor 322, and will permit the relay contacts 298 to re-close and thus re-connect the movable relay contacts 344, 346, 348 and 350 to vend relay coil 280.

As the output shaft 194 of the motor 192 completes a revolution, the combination crankarm and cam 138 and the platform will return to the positions of FIG. 7; and the dwell 200 in the outer cam 198 will move into register with the actuator 204 of switch 202 with consequent re-opening of that switch, and with resultant de-energization of solenoids 130 and 248 and of motor 192. At such time, the spring 178 will shift the lever 174 from the position of FIG. 7 to that of FIG. 6; and the various components of the money-handling device will be in the positions shown by FIGS. 1 and 6.

The re-set motor 322 will remain energized, via the holding circuit through the movable and right-hand contacts of the switch 320 and also through the further holding circuit which includes the lower and movable contacts of the switch 323. In the said,one preferred embodiment, the re-set motor 322 rotates an additional one and one-half seconds afterthe motor 192 comes to rest. Before the re-set motor 322 is de-energized, it will return the movable steppercontact 334 to the position of FIG. 17, and it will rewind the spring of the steppertype credit accumulator as it does so. In addition, that motor will act through a cam-controlled linkage to move the inclined floor 358 of the coin-escrow 83 downwardly to coin-releasing position; and, thereupon, 

1. A money-handling device comprising walls which coact to help define a chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a receptacle that is formed and dimensioned to receive and hold money therein and that is movably mounted adjacent said opening, said receptacle having a portion thereof spaced inwardly of another of said walls to permit unimpeded movement of said receptacle relative to said opening, a guide which overlies the space between said portion of said receptacle and said other of said walls and thereby keeps money from entering said space, said guide having a part thereof which normally lies in the path of said portion of said receptacle, and said part of said guide being engageable by said portion of said receptacle and being movable out of said path by said portion of said receptacle as said portion of said receptacle moves relative to said other of said walls.
 2. A money-handling device comprising walls which coact to help define a chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a receptacle that is formed and dimensioned to receive and hold money therein and that is movably mounted adjacent said opening, said receptacle having a portion thereof spaced inwardly of another of said walls to permit unimpeded movement of said receptacle relative to said opening, a guide which overlies the space between said portion of said receptacle and said other of said walls and thereby keeps money from entering said space, said guide being resiliently mounted relative to said other of said walls, said guide having a part thereof which normally lies in the path of said portion of said receptacle, and the resilient mounting of said guide enabling said portion of said receptacle to move said part of said guide out of said path of said portion of said receptacle as said receptacle moves relative to said other of said walls.
 3. A money-handling device comprising walls which coact to help define a chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a receptacle that is formed and dimensioned to receive and hold money therein and that is movably mounted adjacent said opening, said receptacle having a portion thereof spaced inwardly of another of said walls to permit unimpeded movement of said receptaCle relative to said opening, a guide which overlies the space between said portion of said receptacle and said other of said walls and thereby keeps money from entering said space, said guide having an upper surface that extends inwardly from said other of said walls to keep money from entering said space, and said guide having a lower surface that inclines upwardly and inwardly from said other of said walls to be engaged and moved by said portion of said receptacle as said portion of said receptacle moves relative to said other of said walls.
 4. A money-handling device comprising walls which coact to help define a chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a receptacle that is formed and dimensioned to receive and hold money therein and that is movably mounted adjacent said opening, said receptacle having one portion thereof which effectively blocks access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is in one position, said one portion of said receptacle moving relative to said opening to permit access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is moved to a money-releasing position, said receptacle having a further portion which limits access to said chamber via said opening whenever said receptacle is in said money-releasing position, a coin-return cup underlying said portion of said receptacle and communicating with said opening, another of said walls having an opening therein which permits coins to be introduced into said coin-return cup, and said opening in said other wall being below the level of said portion of said receptacle whenever said receptacle is in said one position, whereby coins can freely enter said coin-return cup through said opening in said other of said walls whenever said receptacle is in said one position.
 5. A money-handling device comprising walls which coact to help define a chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a receptacle that is formed and dimensioned to receive and hold money therein and that is movably mounted adjacent said opening, said receptacle having one portion thereof which effectively blocks access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is in one position, said one portion of said receptacle moving relative to said opening to permit access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is moved to a money-releasing position, said receptacle having a further portion which limits access to said chamber via said opening whenever said receptacle is in said money-releasing position, a coin-return cup underlying said portion of said receptacle and communicating with said opening, and said coin-return cup being recessed to enable said receptacle to move to money-releasing position while said coin-return cup is holding coins therein.
 6. A money-handling device comprising walls which coact to help define a chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a receptacle that is formed and dimensioned to receive and hold money therein and that is movably mounted adjacent said opening, said receptacle having one portion thereof which effectively blocks access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is in one position, said one portion of said receptacle moving relative to said opening to permit access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is moved to a money-releasing position, said receptacle having a further portion which limits access to said chamber via said opening whenever said receptacle is in said money-releasing position, a coin-return cup underlying said portion of said receptacle and communicating with said opening, and said portion of said receptacle being spaced an appreciable distance above said coin-return cup whenever said receptacle is in said one position, whereby coins can readily be removed from said coin-return cup via said opening whenever said receptacle is in said one position.
 7. A Money-handling device comprising walls which coact to help define a chamber, one of said walls having an opening therein, a receptacle that is formed and dimensioned to receive and hold money therein and that is movably mounted adjacent said opening, said receptacle having one portion thereof which effectively blocks access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is in one position, said one portion of said receptacle moving relative to said opening to permit access via said opening to money held in said receptacle whenever said receptacle is moved to a money-releasing position, said receptacle having a further portion which limits access to said chamber via said opening whenever said receptacle is in said money-releasing position, a coin-return cup underlying said portion of said receptacle and communicating with said opening, another of said walls having an opening therein which permits coins to be introduced into said coin-return cup, means causing coints to move laterally as they move into said coin-return cup, and further means permitting money to move downwardly as it moves into said receptacle, whereby said coins and said money move in different directions as they move toward said opening in said one wall. 